New Energy: The Story of Unwound
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- In this week's video, I discuss the insanely influential post-hardcore and noise rock trio, Unwound. Formed in 1991, the band has released now iconic records such as Fake Train, New Plastic Ideas, Repetition and Leaves Turn Inside You. Being one of the most important acts to come from the indie label Kill Rock Stars, this is the story of Unwound. A band consisting of Justin Trosper, Vern Rumsey and Sara Lund that defined a generation of outcasts.
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Feral Angel Waltz (feat. Alexander Nakarada) by Kevin MacLeod
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Видеоклипы
Saw them open for Polvo and Sonic Youth in Dallas. Unwound blew the other bands off the stage imho. Unforgettable.
Damn, all three of those bands are in my top 20! What an awesome show that most have been!
@@abraxasjinx5207 it was fantastic but Polvo was having an off night. I saw them the year before and they were better then.
@@ColeWheeler4Lyfe Polvo is from my hometown. The father of the bass player was the drivers ed teacher at my highschool.
@@abraxasjinx5207 small world! I remember the Polvo guys arguing on stage that night. It was kind of funny to watch. I also remember standing by the PA looking back at the audience during part of Unwound’s set. At one point the singer screamed so loud I saw the entire crowd jump backward in unison. This was a big venue (The Bomb Factory) and it was intense to see so many people react that way.
Damn what a lineup that was.
Sara Lund is one of the greatest drummers of all time
Top 3 for sure
bruh
Love her
Damn you need to listen to more music😭
@@error_1234 lol ok babe. You’re a moron and you can’t cook.
I coincidentally found out the day that Vern died that my dad was good friends with him. My father has always been pretty private about his life before he had his kids. It makes a lot of sense; I've heard plenty of testimonials that Vern was a goofy but troubled guy. Fits in with my dad and his friends. Just crazy to think how close you may be tied to an idol in the strangest of ways. RIP Vern and love to Justin and Sara.
💔
❤
My favorite band of all time, love every album they ever released
New Plastic Ideas changed my whole view of what punk/noise/garage/music could be. Forever, Unwound will be a dominant force in my life
That’s my favorite unwound record too tbh
That’s a great philosophy. It’s rare, but some music brings a spirit that transcends face value. It’s a way, it helps you process things emotionally.
In 2002 (I think it was 02?) I saw unwound’s penultimate show at bobs Java jive in Tacoma wa. It was bitter sweet for me, knowing that my favorite band, a band that I know every word, every note, every melody, chord progression, change, everything in all the songs on all their albums, who I had been lucky enough to see many times throughout the years, was playing for the last time. I’ll never forget walking out of that show and joking with friends saying “ok guys, just waiting for that reunion tour in 20 years cuz I’ll be there!” I’m still blown away that here we are 20 plus years later and we have a reunion tour! Last night I got be there to see their last show in Olympia. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! They still kill it. They did a lovely tribute to Vern at the end of the show, throwing flowers to the audience. It was a beautiful way to watch the most underrated band of the 90s say farewell. Unwound is a band that means so much to me. Their music has a way of catching my soul every time I hear it. I am so thankful that I grew up in the PNW and was young in the 90s and early 00s and got to bare witness to the amazing music scene at the time. I think it’s just so cool that their music has touched so many lives and continues to do so. There were a lot of kids at the show last night and that just makes me smile and remember how I was once one of those kids. Fuck yeah rock on you guys!
All of this me too. Uhhhhhhhhh except for the getting to see them again part
Genuinely entranced when I first discovered them, I think they have have one of the very best final albums. Sara brought what I'd call a patience and touch with her drumming, really helping to craft aspects of their sound.
YOOOO THEYRE BACK TOGETHER AND ARE HAVING A REUNION TOUR LETS GOOOOOO
Got tickets in the presale today!!
@@shaunacrawford4798 me too! Go us
It is nice to see that someone is finally appreciating Vern. He was a very skilled and underrated bassist. May he rest in peace. May his playing influence the coming generations of music
he was an amazing bassist .. his sound was his own and it was intense and emotional
Plus, he promoted other cool bands thru his label. Lowercase being one…they blew the headliner Sebadoh off the stage, just awesome punk rock, that I remember nothing of Sebadoh….just Lowercase shredding it up, and their drummer leaving everyone gobsmacked!
Leaves Turn Inside You-not only my favorite of theirs but of all-time.
In July 2022, Unwound announced reunion shows set for 2023, featuring Jared Warren of Melvins and Big Business on bass, replacing Vern Rumsey who sadly passed away in 2020.
The best thing that 2022 brought to us!
seriously?? whaaat cray
Let's go!! One of the most underrated bands of the 90s imo.
My favorite album by them is so hard to pick but I've grown to really appreciate Future of What. It used to be my least favorite Unwound record, however recently I just haven't been able to stop listening to it and it's actually starting to become my favorite album by them. The songwriting on it is just so raw and powerful (Petals Like Bricks is hands down my favorite song on that record.)
My favorite song by Unwound will always be Lady Elect, the guitar riff at the end is just crushingly beautiful and gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it
Yes yes! All of this! Unwound is my favorite band ever. Hands down. Lady Elect is my favorite song as well. It reminds me of a beautiful rainy stormy day in my head and I just love it… all the goosebumps!
my favorite album of theirs always flip flops between Repetition and New Plastic Ideas, i love LTIY as well but those earlier albums are just such perfect storm, RIP Vern.
Favorite band period, love pretty much every song they’ve ever put out but if I had to choose one album it’s Repetition. Some of the best lyrics and songwriting on any unwound album while still continuing to evolve their sound.
Agreed
I wish I could have seen them live. Absolute legends and very inspirational.
They are back together and touring again with a different bassist
Thank you for putting together an excellent and sincere overview of such an talented, unappreciated band. Unwound is like the 90's version of the Velvet Underground -practically unknown at the time but influential for decades to come...
Always wanted to know more about them, thank you!
I was just rewatching the duster video and went to check if you’d made a video on unwound yet. strange coincidence that it was uploaded so recently. Thanks for this man.
I love duster and unwound who else do you dig!!
thank you so much for this video, unwound became my favorite band of all time in a matter of months, and knowing the story behind their music just made me appreciate them much more. in fact, I'm listening to unwound right now
Saw Unwound many times...the best was in Portland, Maine, with Fugazi. What a night!
Dream show
Underrated outfit. Unwound is one of those hidden gems in the alt music void.
I find myself going back to the self-titled album a lot. The energy is just unreal.
love this thank u for making it!!!
you really deserve more subs, great content and you can tell you are actually interested in the artists you make videos about
Fuck yeah unwound is amazing. And let's me honest there is a massive lack of women drummers in underground punk. Her drums for me are the best aspect of unwound. I think you should cover godspeed you black emperor, orchid, circle takes the square, drive like jehu or rites of spring
A Drive Like Jehu or Orchid video would be awesome
I'm in Oly right now (making the pilgrimage by car from south Florida!) and got to chat with several locals that knew the band, but Vern the most. Had plenty of drinking buddies and was a sweet, goofy guy. It was sad to hear news of his passing last year.
It should be noted that the 90s scene of Olympia was especially strong in a way that it isn't today (partially due to the pandemic, partially due to venues and bars shutting down, partially.... gentrification?). They carved their own moment in time when it mattered and ended at their peak.
Fun fact: Thekla (the venue where they played their last show on April 1, 2002) closed at the end of that month, so it was almost a send-off to that scene as a whole.
Anyway unwound will tour south Florida while they're having this reunion?
@@noneofyourbusiness1114 Probably not. I've moved since I made this comment and will probably go to an LA show.
@@StaggaLags why not? It's the third most populous state.
Plenty of money to be made.
I don't know for certain why they wouldn't come to Florida. Do you think I'm connected with the band?
Justin Trosper is 50. Sara is probably around the same age, and she has a kid. Unwound weren't even aware that they were this popular before tickets sold out for the 2023 tour (a MIRACLE that it is happening at all, with Vern's passing). Maybe they'll take up a Florida date if the initial tour turns out to be sustainable in the long run. They've played Churchill's before, so if Churchill's survives an ownership change, there's some hope to be had there.
In the meantime, see how the 3rd most populous state treated them in '98: ruclips.net/video/N_2sPOnYacg/видео.html
I saw lots of great bands last year (Botch, Sunny Day Real Estate, Gel) but Unwound was definitely the best band I had the privilege of seeing.
I just discovered this band and I'm glad i did. Thank you 😊
My band in the early 90s were friends with Unwound. We played with them in Olympia then invited them down to the Bay Area to headline a local band showcase. This latter show appears in their web archive on 04/04/92. Good times. R.I.P., Vern. 🥀
You did a fantastic job analyzing the catalogue of this seminal band. My favourite album of Unwound is The Future of What. It has the intensity of the first two albums but they really start experimenting with the sound.
anyone else hype as fuck for their reunion this march? got my ticket ready
What a band! Had definitely a very strong following after they were done; they were all over the Internet and I think I've learned about them via Polish blogosphere. Good to see a video reviewing their history (I was always wondering about their internal dynamics... the sheer volume of desperation in their playing).
I want to note Sarah Lund's playing. It's one of a kind and absolutely perfect. The syncopation, tension and timing of her style are terrific. Zero bullshit tour de forces, just raw execution. My personal fav drummer ever, hands down, no contest. Guitars and bass are also fascinating here; their use of feedback was far more dramatic than in other bands... I also love their trademark chord progressions, soaking their anger in a very unique, bleak, ghostly quality.
It's funny how music from an absolutely different place in the world was so crucial to my musical experience as a mentally ill teen in a tiny European town, far away from any place with gigs and scenes. Somehow their music encapsulated my feelings, and I didn't even knew English this much. I remember being sick for a month in middle school, playing GTA3 and listening to Leaves Turn Inside You on repeat. It's still my beloved record of them. More "rock" oriented records took me some time, but I gradually fell in love with each and every one. A lot of my friends wrote fanmail to Vern, because he was active on FB. It was abstract when he died... A devastating loss.
Anyway, I think they have a real legacy. Devoted fanbase is worth hundreds of magazine lists.
Saw them in Portland OR in 1991. Was very impressed.
Best band of all time
and now they’re coming back :-)
This was so good, thanks for that!
You should do one on Moss Icon
6:10 PCH Club in Wilmington, CA. January 1998. I think maybe they played MK Ultra for an encore. They were great, of course. Opening band was Tight Bros from Way Back When.
Fuck yeah! Loved these guys forever and just got one of their box sets on vinyl 🤛🏼
Finally getting around to watching this before I see them on tour in a month. Really devastating to hear about Rumsey’s drinking issues. I’m excited to see the band but damn do I wish Vern was still here
There is absolutely no way there were 4,000 people in the Jabberjaw. Candy Korn Rituals was a reference to them eating junk food and watching trashy movies when they were in high school.
Yep. I wonder where that number came from. Jabberjaw was maybe about 1500 ft^2 tops, with a small backyard patio and snack bar.
They were very similar to drive like Jehu and Jawbox. Noise Rock side of Post Hardcore inspired bands like Cave-in, Blonde Redhead and ...Trail Of Dead.
Vern played on blonde redheads "fake can be just as good" album
@@joshuapintye2184 that's right
I was lucky to see UNWOUND play live once in San Diego (at the Casbah) in 97' or 98' .. it was super intense and amazing! I remember studying Vern's bass playing style and having my mind blown
Great fucking band. Integrity. Respect.
Yesss my favorite band
Leaves Turn Inside You is a mindblowing album, one of the best for me! I guess I havent paid a lot of attention to Challenge for a Civilized Society, gonne give it a second listen!
thanks spotify for suggesting Unwound. Been blasting Kantina for days now
Im relatively new to unwound but they were my top artist this year and i just Dont think you can beat the chemistry and character of fake train
Actually, it is a common misconception that the later self titled was the same album as the earlier self titled. It is in fact a whole new album that they wrote and recorded. The original self titled was released across a few of the Numero compilations and sounds much more like Fake Train and their Giant Henry work, which makes it more beleiveable.
11:58 How did you miss that opportunity to say “before things came unwound”??? SMH
Very cool! as a side note, Sara also has a project called Conformity Contortion.
For all you kids out there and discophiles learning about unwound, check out unwound side projects. Justin had a bunch. One of my faves was Replikants. I think they did two albums, amazing off the wall stuff hard to describe --maybe noise jazz electronic groove music. Beautiful stuff. Other fave was Young Ginns, very interesting album, justin played bass, with Tim Green from NOU on guitar. Weird because I thought greens style sounded like justin's which I wouldn't have thought was possible. Fun stuff, check it out. Also, don't forget Vern played with Blonde Redhead on Fake can be just as good. His signature style graces that album distinctly. Must listen for young people discovering this era of more underground stuff.
This channel is sick! You should make a video on Boris :D
2023 reunion kicking ass! Saw em in PDX on 2/8. See them if U can, they deliver!!!
luckily got to see them in the year 2000.
that four album stretch from New Plastic Ideas to Challenge is UNFUCKWITHABLE.
future of what and leaves turn inside you are two of the best albums ever made fr
thanks for this man... i just got into UNWOUND😎👌
you've earned my like on the video.
Thank you! Really appreciate it
i stumbled upon Unwound at Vets Hall in santa cruz in '93 I think? Ha! long time ago. It was a small hall! I can't describe the energy and melody and drive of the situation. It was shocking. It was the Fake Train tour. I had never heard of them. My roommate and I cobbled together the 8 bucks or so to buy a CD. We made a cassette copy and I got the copy. Wore that tape out! Soaked in every subsequent album but never saw them live again till 2001 in Nashville, a few days before 911. Amazing band. Sara Lund's drumming is extremely unusual. It's interesting to listen to early pre-Sara stuff. It's great but it's not quite as melodic. Justin and Vern went crazy with melody after sara joined. Justin's guitar style was idiosyncratic, you're not going to find a ton of similar style. You could say greg ginn or thurston moore or lee renaldo or curt kobain. But Justin had his own twisted knarly thing going on. It's all discovery kind of music, like taking a block of stone and carving out something new each time. It's all just like magic or spontaneous generation. Obviously I'm biased, one of all time favorite rock bands. Vern on Blonde Redhead--fake just as good--album amazing. This video would be A LOT better if you actually paused to play the music. Maybe you can't legally?
orbor-etum, its like a tree park. we have one outside the city here in boston. about time band got some love on here, so very cool
No Energy made me a lifetime fan. An all time punk classic.
Such a bad ass band! Wish I could have seen them back in the day with Vern RIP
After finding your video of Unwound, I was wondering if I could find videos of the story of 2000s bands They Shall Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Sparta
How did i miss them in the 90’s
You were listening to DMB
Fake train is perfect
Awesome video on an amazing band. Thoughts on polvo and rapeman?
Story of shiner and mineral please !
Cool.. Thx
I love fake train!
They never did top "Fake Train," but they were Awesome.
I always thought there were moments on “Challenge for a Civilized Society” that were their best but it kind of falls apart, which is disappointing.
leaves turn inside you is way better than fake train
i disagree
dude they topped it like three times
best band of all time
Imagine waltzing into the studio to top Repetition. That’s never going to happen. Leaves Turn is my favorite but Repetition was one of the greatest Art/Indie Rock bands that ever will be, at the peak of something special.
OF ALL TIME
Anyone know if this -----> 7:05 was at Off the Record in San Diego??
Yes it is. Here’s the link:
ruclips.net/video/KSNq9N48Wl0/видео.html
Leaves turn is my fave
Biggest influence
🔥
RIP Vern
Idk. Unwound weren't "under" anything. Maybe when they opened for fugazi. It was definitely in the post hard-core movement as "emo" was still a thrasher misquote about rev. summer '85. Not a genre. Everything was indie rock. Unwound sold shows out. Us older people who were hard-core kids saw it all as way too long to wait for girls who actually liked us.
I can’t get into them can anyone recommend any songs from unwound( thanks for the reply’s I’ll check these songs out $
I’d recommend some of their more accessible songs like Corpse Pose, Dragnalus, Unauthorized Autobiography or maybe Envelope at first. Some of their later stuff is definitely an acquired taste.
Kantina, All Souls Day and Corpse Pose are awesome.
Terminus, Demolished, Petals like Bricks, Summer Freeze
Kantina and Draganalus are probably the most digestible. Draganalus is very relatable if you've been in a decaying relationship. Kantina is melodically easier to get into. Once you have those down I highly recommend continuing to search thru their discography past that.
Other bands like Polvo, Slint, Duster, Embrace, Rites of Spring, Cherubs, and Drive Like Jehu may help supplement the experience, just to understand where music was at the time and what it was trying to convey. Also, Draganalus' theme is shared with the song Reality Breakdown by No Trend if you want to explore that rabbit hole.
kantina, hexenzsene, message received, the world is flat, october all over
please talk about helvetia
you look like nakey jakey if he was an ancient greek man. that rocks
gud vid
:3
i think this stuff is good...polvo included. but the nature of the music imo holds it back from becoming a timeless classic. its organized chaos. its different. its cool. but sometimes you just want to hear a good song.
Story of WEEDEATER
man why do you have to put that lousy piano in the background
😂
It’s pronounced ar-bor-ee-tum dude ha ha
Copy. 4000 people at Jabberjaw. That’s funny.